Israeli scientists complete mock Mars mission in Negev desert

 

Israeli scientists participate in an experiment simulating a mission to Mars, at the D-MARS Desert Mars Analog Ramon Station project of Israel's Space Agency, Ministry of Science, near Mitzpe Ramon, Israel, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

 

RAMON CRATER, Israel (Reuters) - A team of six Israeli researchers on Sunday ended a four-day Mars habitat experiment in Israel's Negev desert where they simulated living conditions on the Red Planet, Israel's Science and Technology Ministry said.

 

The experiment was held near the isolated Israeli township of Mitzpe Ramon, whose surroundings resemble the Martian environment in its geology, aridity, appearance and desolation, the ministry said.

 

The participants were investigating various fields relevant to a future Mars mission, including satellite communications, the psychological affects of isolation, radiation measurements and searching for life signs in soil.

 

Participant Guy Ron, a nuclear physics professor from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, said the project was not only intended to look for new approaches in designing a future mission to the Red Planet but to increase public interest.

 

"D-Mars is half about the research, and the other half is about the outreach. A major part of this project is getting public interest and getting students interested in space," he said.

 

The "D-Mars" project was being held in Israel for the first time in cooperation with the Israel Space Agency. It is one of a number of Mars simulation projects taking place worldwide.

 

(Reporting by Rami Amichay; Writing by Ori Lewis; Editing by Edmund Blair)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-02-19

The Wadi Rum in southern Jordan, also called the Valley of the Moon, is a 278-square-mile protected area looks about as Martian as you’re likely to find on Earth.

Scenes from Red Planet, Mission to Mars, Last Days on Mars and The Martian were shot there.

The American Southwest was used for John Carter of Mars.

https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2015-10-02/the-martian-comes-to-earth-filming-locations-for-the-red-planet

Was it that Israel being a Jewish state prevented it from similar access in Jordan?

Or something more basic such as promoting tourism given the publicity of Mars by the Space-X launches?

Mars-the new Promised Land! 

One-way only tickets are now available.

Seeya!

38 minutes ago, Elfin said:

Mars-the new Promised Land! 

One-way only tickets are now available.

Seeya!

Indeed they are. Plan is to send 4 people initially. I think they'd last about 6 months before they started to kill each other. I spent seven months in a closed environment with 11 other people and we were not a happy crew. At least our base was big enough to avoid the people we didn't like.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_One

Edited February 19, 20188 yr by thaibeachlovers

2 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Was it that Israel being a Jewish state prevented it from similar access in Jordan?

 

Where have you seen Israel prevented Jordan from anything in the article? No point!

 

Here it's not a movie, it's scientific rehearsal, not a movie. Why would Israelis would go to Jordan, especially when they have everything at home?

 

>>> something more basic such as promoting tourism 

 

So what? Is it forbidden? Tourism in tthe Negev is close to nil as you won't find many hotels lol!

And, again, it's scientific experiment!

 

 

Israel is planning a mission to Mars? 

I want some of what they're smoking.

Scientific research is cool though.